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Episode VIII was great, that’s no question, and it left us with an infinite amount of stuff to discuss. The last couple years I’ve had trouble finding the right time to discuss VII and Rogue One, but this year I took notes soon as I arrived home from the theater! But like say, I still had too many thoughts to make a coherent post out of, so I decided to do a little “awards show” of sorts to celebrate some of my favorite things and pinpoint some of the most intriguing things. I’ll admit I’ve only seen the film once at this point, so I may’ve misremembered some stuff, but I will do my best as I highlight the moments, characters, and events that made The Last Jedi so wonderful!

Contains spoilers from Rebels episode The Holocrons Of Fate, Episode VII, and Episode VIII. Seriously. These are big spoilers.

BEST TIME SPENT GETTING TO FURTHER KNOW A CHARACTER:
POE DAMERON
Episode VII introduced us to Poe Dameron almost right off the bat, and though he only was in a handful of scenes, it was impossible not to love the guy. A talented, fearless pilot with a quick wit and a heart of gold who clearly valued his friends and could easily make new ones. I had no idea we’d get to spend as much time with him in VIII as we did, but I loved it. to. pieces. We got to see a little more edge with him than before as he proved himself a bit more of a “dangerous flyboy” than I’d thought, but all the same it made it clear how much he believed in bringing the fight to the First Order and doing the right thing, even when he was mistaken on a couple matters. And I loved seeing more of his epic piloting skills, watching him take charge in new ways, and laughing my head off as he threw jabs at General Hux XD But what I enjoyed most, perhaps, was seeing him further his new friendships with Finn and Rose. Together they made such a great squad I couldn’t help but want to be friends with ’em! Oh, and can’t forget his best buddyship with BB-8! My favorite line in the film just might be “Finn! Rose! You’re not dead! Where’s my droid?”. Sorry but BB-8 was his BFF first XP I remember after first seeing Force Awakens, misremembering Poe and BB-8’s reunion and thinking the pilot had joyfully hugged his ‘mech upon reuniting, not just kneeling down and patting his dome. This time we actually got something close to a hug and it made me so happy because I would do the same. Hehe I’m so glad Poe and I think alike 🙂 But yes I’m so so glad we got to spend so much time with him this chapter! He’s become even more of a favorite than before!

BEST TIME GETTING TO REUNITE WITH A CHARACTER:
LUKE SKYWALKER
I’ve been waiting to see (and hear) Master Luke for a long time now. Or at least it feels like a long time. You guys know what I’m talking about. I even remember dreaming a while ago that VIII would open somewhat like Phantom Menace, with the master and apprentice on a secret mission. But even with some questions answered with the trailers, there was still so much I didn’t know. So, like you most likely, I found myself holding my breath as Luke took the hilt from Rey…
And then in a matter of seconds, I died laughing. Completely died XD
Luke was truly amazing in this film. So was Mark Hamill. At times he brought a warm familiarity that felt true to the farmboy we met forty years ago (or in my case, ten years ago), and at other times, we saw the scars of misunderstandings and fear and tragedy that opened up a new, intriguing angle on Luke as well as the whole Skywalker saga itself. I loved watching him take on the role of a master, not just because of what his perspective on the Force could offer, but because of the interesting fact he really was hesitant just about the whole time. Something I’ve never quite exactly seen in all the master-apprentice relationships we’ve seen in Star Wars. Sure, a lot of the masters we’ve followed have been uncertain at first, but they usually got past that after a little while and master and apprentice became best friends. Perhaps it was because Luke and Rey didn’t have as much time together as some, but it made for an intriguing situation, especially as Rey found herself walking into things she didn’t understand without much guidance or warning. Yet at the same time, there was still some warmth and fun to it that also felt familiar but unique. Yes, in the course of these precious two-and-a-half hours Luke got me all kinds of nostalgic, got me thinking mile-deep thoughts, got me nodding my head thinking “oh yeah that’s how you do it good sir” as he used the Force, got me laughing out loud, and of course, got me a little weepy. Especially when we said goodbye. But it was not a tragic goodbye, it was a peaceful one, and for that I am thankful. OK I have no clue if anything I wrote the last couple paragraphs made sense, but getting to better know this amazing Jedi, teacher, and brother was far more exciting and wonderful than I could’ve anticipated.

CHARACTER WHO MOST DESERVES AN ANTHOLOGY MOVIE:
MAZ KANATA
Perhaps a bit of a controversial choice, because there are a lot of characters who could use one (or two, or a trilogy…). But in the few minutes we spent with the Pirate Queen, we got a taste of some serious adventure that I definitely want to see more of. Yeah I wasn’t totally sure we’d see her in the film at all, so I’m happy either way whether Maz gets her own movie or not 🙂 *Cough* at least let’s get a novel ok?

BEST TIME GETTING TO KNOW A NEW CHARACTER:
ROSE TICO
I already had a feeling Rose was gonna be great just from how wonderful Kelly Marie Tran was at Celebration Orlando. Once again, could not have predicted just how great. She made the favorite character list pretty quickly, especially as she went from playing the fangirl to giving Finn a good zapping XD I love her spunk and drive but also how much she cares for her friends and family and doing the right thing. She’s definitely one of the most relatable SW characters to me, which is probably why I came out as her on the starwars.com personality quiz. And at the same time she has a lot of admirable qualities that I could only hope to possess. She just fits so so well into the SW universe and brought some serious sunshine to the dark times. It’s impossible not to adore her! Alsooooo she and Finn are kinda cute together I’ll admit… :3

BEST SURPRISE GUEST:
YODA
After seeing VII, I started to come up with little stories about the Force ghost crew visiting Luke on Ach-To (and usually driving him nuts XP). But I never expected to actually see one of these great Jedi in the next chapter. So when I saw those pointy ears… I let loose a whisper-squee-scream of pure happiness that probably would’ve been much louder if I wasn’t well-aware of all the people in the theater I’d disturb doing so. Yoda was so perfect and hilarious and just the right amount of not-too-serious-but-still-so-ridiculously-wise-and-epically-powerful! And I had no idea just what Jedi are capable of after they take on immortality. I mean, wow! And having rewatched V and VI only a few days before, seeing Luke and Yoda together again in this time was too amazing and threw nostalgia feels all over me. I’m amazed Lucasfilm managed to keep this a secret, but it was just about the best reveal ever 😀 “Page turners they are not”, but always a delight, Yoda is!

BEST NEW CREATURE (ASIDE FROM PORGS):
FATHIERS
Perhaps the other best-kept secret in the film was these amazing giraffe-llama-rabbit-horses. These graceful, sweet-natured giants stole my heart pretty quickly, and watching Rose and Finn set ’em free got me all gooey inside. Sooo can we get some of these in another film or show? At least maybe The Freemaker Adventures? ‘Cause I need more fathiers. Second place goes to the vulptices but only because they’re not in the film quite as much but I love them the same anyway.

BIGGEST “OMGWHAT” MOMENT:
LEIA’S CLOSE CALL
Every Star Wars story has that one moment you can’t forget your reaction. Sometimes it’s a reaction of joy, sometimes it’s a moment of sadness… this one was a moment of complete shock. The moment in the trailer between Kylo and Leia itself was terrifying enough. AND THEN they pull the rug out from under you, and you watch as a different TIE takes the shot… my jaw was on the floor and all I could think was “Nonononono did that just happen?! This can’t be the way General Organa goes!”. And I probably missed some other important dialogue in-between because those two thoughts were on repeat in my head. I don’t think any of us are truly ever ready to say goodbye to a character in SW, but I really really wasn’t ready for Leia to go. I was so completely relieved that wasn’t how she was gonna go. Watching her use the Force so masterfully was all at once amazing and surreal and “WHOA”. And it’s especially intriguing because even though we’ve seen Kanan do something similar in The Holocrons Of Fate, the stakes were even higher for Leia here. So it begs the question if the situation demanded a stronger knowledge of the Force to perform, or if it’s just something the Chosen One’s children naturally possess. There are a lot of questions here, but that’s one thing I love so much about this movie: it says to us fans “Oh so you think you know everything there is to know about the Force? Well guess what? YOU DON’T!” and that is a-ok with me. So yeah I was thankful I could breathe again… at least for a little while before the next OMGWHAT moment. And this chapter of the saga had a lot of those…

COOLEST NEW CRAFT:
SKI SPEEDERS
I’ve loved these things from day one and that’s a fact. They’re so quintessentially Star Wars-y yet so unique and quirky and fast and I really just couldn’t help but adore them. OK so maybe Poe and I don’t always think alike, but I want to take a spin on one of these oldies all the same 🙂

COOLEST NEW WORLD:
ALL OF THE ABOVE
Seriously, I can’t pick one. Every SW film promises new incredible, exciting places to see, and Last Jedi supremely delivered. The amazing picturesque natural beauty of Ach-To! The rough, surreal-but-magnificent white-and-red landscape of Crait! Even the less-than-reputable world of Canto Bight captured my attention with its eclectic Mos Eisley Cantina-style cast of characters and all that cray amount of glitz and glam. Each world served the story perfectly and was as interesting as they were eye-catching and make me want to come back, even though I know IX will surely bring a lot of exciting new places of its own…

And that’s just scratching the surface of things that have consumed my mind the last three weeks, and hopefully we’ll find time to discuss further stuff another day. But OMG yes I love this chapter of the saga so so much. I love the camaraderie, the teamwork, the unsolved mysteries, the unexpected twists, the one-liners, everything BB-8 does, the way it blows my mind, the way it shook me to my core, that wonderful Star Wars feel, and the wonderfully hopeful ending that caps it off better than I could’ve hoped. IX seems so so far away now… but I’m glad there’s still so much Star Wars to come until then :3

All right, so let’s head back to Lothal for this week’s Rebel Transmission! I do apologize that my one-episode-post-per-week sched makes it harder for you to get the up-to-date Rebs thoughts you might be looking for. But as this is the last season, I want to savor every little moment ❤ Anyway, on to Flight Of The Defender!

Contains spoilers from Rebels episodes The Occupation and Flight Of The Defender. Ideally, you should be caught up with every episode prior to these before reading. Events from episodes after these will not be covered.

Star Wars and cuteness: it’s a time-honored tradition that began with the endearing presence of characters like Artooie and Chewie and has gone on for ages since, especially in these days when we’re surrounded by characters and creatures like BB-8, porgs, and of course, LOTHCATS! Right out of the gate we get a darling trio of these space kittehs and they bring me so so much joy! The one grooming Zeb got me somewhere between cracking up and “aww”ing my head off X3 They just steal the show in the best way, always up to something new and adorable! And they can still give a couple of bucketheads a run for their credits! I’ll always champion SW’s use of cuteness because it’s another one of those things that makes these stories and worlds feel so real and relatable. Plus, cute things help make dark times a little bit lighter, and as you know, the perfect balance of dark and light is one of those things I love so much about Star Wars 🙂 And some lightness was definitely needed right now as there’s a new deadlier-than-ever Defender on its way…

I think it’s an unarguable fact that whenever the Rebs take control of an Imperial craft, we’re in for a good time, or at least a good fight. Brings back some good memories there… just this time the stakes might be a lot lot higher. But even with the flight cut short by the Imps, we definitely have some fun with Ezra and Sabine today. It was thrilling watching Sabine leave a trail of firepower at every turn when she first set out. And then Ezra’s piloting skills?? Oh my gosh he’s gotten so good! These two are a force of nature and I loved every minute of their showdown in the skies! And I gotta say, I liked the TIE Defenders the first time we saw ’em, but now I love them. So fast! So firey! And that sound! Whoo!! Not to mention those cool little jet trails it leaves when it spins. If only they weren’t a huge huge problem for the Rebel Alliance, I might love them more… that and maybe if they had some more seatbelts/restraints, considering the way the kids got thrown around in there.
Also can we talk about Thrawn for a sec ’cause WOW he just keeps getting epic-er. With that cool, unrattled stare and his blaster aimed straight and true, I wouldn’tve been too surprised if one shot had brought the Defender down. That is what I’m callin’ #Thrawnfidence! 😀 Yeah we have to make that hashtag a thing now. Absolutely.

OK so I have to say something further about Ezra and Sabine ’cause they just make the best team right now, and in really every episode this season so far. I’ve been thinking back on the first couple seasons a lot lately and it’s amazing to look at how much their bond has grown and strengthened since then. Earlier we saw Ezra standing alongside Sabine on Mandalore, and now vice versa is true amidst all the tragedy surrounding Ez’s homeworld. I just love that loyalty, their honesty with each other, and how they’re so different sometimes, but they’re always on the same wavelength anyway. You see all those elements in a big way this episode. And one thing that caught my attention in this one in an unexpected way, was watching those few times Ezra held Sabine while she was out. There’s something so endlessly noble and tender about that gesture, small though it may be, that it makes me swoon a little (that, and write this whole paragraph here). Of course, it’s easy for me to just make this all about the potentially-romantic angle of their relationship, but looking back on how far they’ve come as a whole, I find I love them together for simply who they are now: Ezra and Sabine, the kids of the Ghost family, the best of friends, and one of the most explosively dynamic Rebel duos to date. Wherever they go in their relationship from here, it’s still nothing short of something really special :3

And obviously we must talk about the lothwolves. They are astounding, aren’t they? As you can figure from the first paragraph, I’m a big animal nerd, with a particular soft spot for furry things including felines and canines. Naturally, I was quite fond of that old idea Dave Filoni discussed at Celebration 2016 of Ahsoka riding a massive white wolf. I was happy to see the concept made it into the canon in some way when I spotted some cave paintings resembling the creature showed up in Thrawn’s studies in Season 3, but little did I expect them to take on such a big role this season. With a creature as mysterious as this, there’s not much I can say other than reiterate again how beautiful, majestic, and intriguing they are. And how awe-inspiring its size is, how chilling its voice is, and that amazingly wise look in its eyes. I’m really excited to further dig into what the lothwolf brings to the SW mythos. They’re just really really neat even if there’s so much I still don’t understand.
But with Star Wars, there’s still a lot of joy in the mysteries…

Anyone else spend the majority of their time online yesterday staring at the Star Wars Youtube channel waiting for the new trailer?
Yeah, so did I. That might’ve been the most agonizing wait in the history of Star Wars. I mean… the last couple years, they debuted the trailers during a certain program so you’d get a general idea of the time, but not this year. My eyes were sore from constantly checking the computer by the time it popped up around 10pm-ish. But oh my land it was so worth the wait. SO SO WORTH IT.
In the tradition of past analyses, I will give you my personal (almost) second-by-second breakdown of my thoughts and theories. Now, let’s watch it again!

Contains some spoilers from Episode VII and some of the other films before it.

0:00 – From the first shot onward, my jaw dropped, and my mouth refused to close again until the trailer’s end.
0:01 – It’s Kylo Ren, and he’s got something heavy on his mind, it seems.
0:02 – It took me a second viewing to realize he was overlooking a factory. The wavery watery look of the glass made me first think it was an aquarium of some sort, or maybe an aquatic opera like Palpatine used to enjoy.
0:04 – Snoke still has one of the scariest voices of all time. Without a shadow of doubt. He got me so intrigued. Seriously, how did a nice kid like Ben end up with a dark master like this guy?
0:06 – AHHHHHH THESE WALKERS THAT I CAN’T REMEMBER THE NAME OF!! THEY ARE MAGNIFICENT! AND TERRIFYING!
0:08 – What you mean by “war” exactly? That he was conflicted, that he was a strong fighter, or a little of both? Y’know OMG I just wondered if maybe the whole narration is a ruse, and it sounds like Snoke is talking to Kylo but maybe it’s some point that he’s talking to Rey? Might be off but with Star Wars you’ve gotta look at it from all angles.
0:11 – Such a dynamic image wow. And hmm look at those streaks of red on the floor! There’s a lot of red in this trailer and I can’t help but wonder what it all means…
0:15 – See look! There’s red on the walls here! It’s visually appealing, but you guys know in SW, nothing is there just for looks.
0:17 – I’m still trying to figure out if this is a new lightsaber or not. Unless my memory’s failed me I’m pretty sure he lost it in the duel on Starkiller Base. So… did he just get it repaired or did he find another one that looks exactly like it? Whatever the case I’m glad; it’s so awesomely iconic I can’t imagine Ren wielding anything else.
0:22 – Andy Serkis be givin’ me chiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiills here. How does he do it??
0:23 – But then we cut over to Rey! Wonder why exactly? Oh that Skywalker ‘saber is still so cool though…
0:25 – Also wow are those skies blue. I need a ticket to the place they filmed Ach-To asap.
0:29 – The Lucasfilm logo will always strike me with the thought: “HOLD ON TO YOUR POTATOES, EPICNESS IS ABOUT THE HAPPEN!”
0:31 – #VacationGoals #ThatWasATotalUnderstatement
0:35 – WE’RE FINALLY SEEING THE MASTER AND APPRENTICE COMING TOGETHER AND I CAN’T GET OVER IT.
0:37 – I hardly know how to put my thoughts into words. So many emotions here.
0:39 – I not only want a vacation on Ach-To, I also want a cape like Rey’s.
0:41 – It’s that mystery place again! Oooh!
0:44 – Every time I see this shot, my eyes widen. It’s a reflex to something that massively beautiful.
0:45 – Rey wielding that lightsaber is so utterly perfect. It’s like she was meant to wield it somehow. Nothing we don’t already know, of course, but I still remember what it was like when the trailers were making it look like Finn’s lightsaber. Seeing her taking it and owning it makes me so proud 🙂
0:48 – Wait did she direct the Force through the ‘saber to the ground?? Or was that just really cool editing?? Either way WHOAAA.
0:49 – Never mind that was apparently just good editing since Rey’s standing in a different spot now.
0:50 – Another one of my favorite shots we’ve seen so far. So completely mind-blowing!
0:53 – Mark Hamill is so so amazing in this. I really really cannot wait to hear and see more of Luke in this new time and place.
0:55 – I assumed this was Luke’s hand but now I’m not so sure…
0:57 – I figured Luke would have some uncertainties with training Rey, but I never thought he’d see some of what was in Ren in her. At least, that’s what I’m assuming he’s talking about. This getting intense.
1:00 – Yeah Luke doesn’t look thrilled. That is the face of “NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE NOPE!”
1:01 – Also dang are Luke’s eyes blue. Not that I didn’t know this already but the HD is really working nicely here.
1:02 – Rey is like “say wat now?”
1:06 – OH THIS POOR CONFLICTED CHILD…
1:07 – I’m glad to see his face healed up better than I expected it to, though.
1:08 – That boy has one impressive throwing arm.
1:10 – INTENSITY LEVELS RISING.
1:12 – IT’S THE TIE SILENCER OMG!! I’ve jokingly called it the Bat-TIE because it’s sleek shape calls to mind the Batmobile. But this beautiful punisher is definitely no joke with Kylo behind the controls…
1:15 – These visual effects are music to my… eyes. Wait that sentence doesn’t make sense.
1:18 – NOOOOOOOOOOOO YOU WOULDN’T…!
1:19 – THESE SHOTS ABSOLUTELY TERRIFY ME.
1:22 – AND MAKE ME WEEP FOR ALL THIS ONCE-BEAUTIFUL FAMILY HAS LOST.
1:25 – *Curls up into a ball and cries for several minutes*
1:27 – It’s only two months and five days away, but it still feels so far…
1:29 – The Falcon!! And again a whole lot of red. Is it representing the dark side or something else?
1:31 – AHH IT’S CHEWIE!! He’s looking amazinggg!
1:33 – PORGS. ARE. EVERYTHING. MY GOSH.
1:35 – Hey there Poe!
1:36 – Nobody says epic inspiring motivational stuff like Poe Dameron does. BURN IT DOWN, BOY! BURN IT ALLLLLL THE WAY DOWN!!
1:40 – And I’m not sure anybody can make an entrance as epically as Captain Phasma does.
1:41 – Safe to say though that Finn’s not impressed with his former boss.
1:42 – FINN ‘BOUT TO BRING IT! YAAAAAAS!!
1:44 – Not sure what else to say here, just still reeling in the amazingness of it all.
1:45 – NONONONO YOU GOTTA BE OK, BB-8!
1:46 – Luke sounds so intense here wow.
1:47 – Oooh check out these snow cats I want one!
1:49 – Hey there’s Leia! But I’m still unclear what she’s standing there for… and where she’s standing… so many questions! So much uncertainty!
1:50 – Wonder where Rey’s taking this dive?
1:52 – Who’s that she’s facing down?? It goes by so fast I literally don’t know.
1:53 – I can’t help but wonder what Finn’s doing in First Order garb right now. I’m assuming it’s an undercover thing… or maybe an undercover thing that was a complete accident because he wasn’t intending on going undercover but he ended up on a First Order ship and had to think fast. I NEED TO KNOW.
1:55 – OOOh buddy the First Order’s looking sharp… and that’s not good for the Resistance.
1:56 – More red going on over here. I don’t know what the imagery means for sure, but I love imagery in filmmaking nonetheless.
1:57 – I’m definitely glad to know those nifty speeders are the Resistance’s now. They’re so awesome and different I assumed they might belong to some other group of antagonists, but this is much better.
1:59 – IT’S SNOKE! IN THE FLESH! YIKES HE’S STILL SO FRIGHTENING, BUT SO INTRIGUING! Also dang I hope Rey’s gonna be OK..
2:12 – My literal reaction after seeing this: “WHAT?! WAT. WAT. WHAT. WAHT. WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT??!” Translation: “What could Rey possibly gain from Ren? What could he gain from her? What. does. this. mean??”

One of the many reasons I love Star Wars is because of how it balances dark and light, simultaneously making me go from joy to excitement to fear to sadness and back around again. Star Wars truly makes me experience all emotions, even in the period of a two-minute trailer. I also love the way they portray heroes and villains and how they’re not always all dark or all light. Though it’s left me with endless questions, I love that last image of a conflicted villain holding out his hand to a perhaps equally-conflicted hero. I knew this trailer would be amazing, I just couldn’t grasp or imagine how much more so it would be. It’s left me utterly astounded in the best way possible.

Again, so worth the wait. Now… we just have to wait a little tiny bit longer…

Keep The Peace,
– Twilight

P.S. If you’re wondering where the Freemaker posts went off to, you’ll find the next episode’s post up tomorrow 🙂

When brainstorming possible posts to write this weekend, I realized I’d never taken the time to appreciate Lego’s The Resistance Rises shorts. I am remedying that today, because these are super-fun, super-clever, and even know how to bring some serious feels as we get to revisit the Force Awakens era in a whole new way! Let me share some of my favorite things about them as we watch.NOTE: Contains spoilers from Episode VII

POE TO THE RESCUE

The first of the shorts offers a really nice look at the (sort of) average daily life for the Resistance and the First Order before VII’s events. Starkiller Base has yet to make its first appearance, but Captain Phasma and Kylo Ren are still coming up with new ways to make things difficult for their enemies. But when you’ve got the crack team of Poe, Threepio, and BB-8 on your tail, the odds are not something you wanna hear 🙂

Assorted Fangirl Musings:
– Nice hearing Tom Kane’s narrator voice at a different time and place in the SW universe!
– Ackbar is a serious boss you guys. I don’t know how old he is, but he sure hasn’t slowed down! Wow did anyone else sort of just remember that he’s been through the Clone Wars and the Galactic Civil War and now all this stuff with the First Order vs. the Resistance? It’s almost unreal how much of Star Wars history he’s been involved in! Major respect points.
– (Mostly) acid rain-proof umbrellas. A must for any Resistance pilot! How did Threepio get out there though?? For an old droid, he gets himself into a lot of trouble! #Understatement
– Threepio, I think you may be the first person in the world to look at BB-8 and not be excited. But I guess since Artoo’s been out of commission a while, it’s easy to see how Threepio might’ve been bummed out those beeps and chirps were from a different astromech. Aww that just made me a shed a tear…
– Poe and Threepio’s dynamic is hilarious. I could seriously use more of these guys’ shenanigans in my life. The ace pilot and his general’s very-particular protocol droid! Comedy gold!
– Hey Threeps, for what it’s worth, I’d like to hear the story of that new arm of yours. I probably will once I start going through all those comics I’m severely overdue on reading. Until then, maybe R0-GR can help you write your autobiography! 🙂
– That graycoat really should’ve known better than to stand underneath a troop transport’s door #Fail #ButWhatAGloriousFailTho The fact his head got attached to the bottom of the door Lego-style made it all the funnier XD
– Boy they had a lot of prisoners. What’d they have against a wampa and a jawa?? Who knows? Probably Kylo Ren’s just annoyed by everything XP
– “Captain Phasma… you have failed me for the first time. Which is… weird. That’s never happened!” Love that he’s totally channeling his grandpa-senpai again. Also mad props to whoever’s voicing him. I wish these things had credits ’cause if I didn’t know better I’d think it was Adam Driver himself!
– POE’S X-WINGGGGG GUYS. IT’S BEEN A WHILE SINCE I WATCHED THIS SHORT SO I FORGOT IT WAS IN THERE AND NOW I’M POSITIVELY GIDDY.

REY STRIKES BACK

Everyday life on Jakku looks to be nothing short of unforgiving and miserable. Episode VII already made that clear, but this short certainly drives the point home again. But Rey ain’t takin’ crud from no one today. Not from Plutt, not from Plutt’s cronies, and certainly not from any space cacti! I love her drive, determination, and outright sass in this short, as well as her impressive building skillz, as she takes on every blow this desolate world can deal her. There’s a reason she’s made it this long out here.

Assorted Fangirl Musings:
– “Nothing can flourish there, but a young scavenger named REY is certainly trying….” well-said, Mr. Kane!
– I gotta say, I think my favorite thing about this short is Kevin, Unkar Plutt’s precious pet space cactus and only friend. I just think about it and I die laughing. It’s good to know the guy has a soft spot for something besides money! Also, whenever I want to work on my Rey impression, “‘Kevin’? You gave your plant a name?”, is my go-to XD It’s all just so beautifully hilarious and perfectly Lego.
– Suddenly, Twilight remembers she has named plants before and realizes she’s the pot calling the kettle “black”.
– I love her speeder is like a bucking bronco with those thugs! Don’t mess with her fierce, noble steed!
– Guys! Throwing Lego bricks around is dangerous! Do you know how much those things hurt when their corners hit your skin?! Or when you step on one?! Or when you get your hair caught between them?! Things just got realllllll…
– Random thought: if it weren’t for the fact Luke’s going to be training her, I bet Rowan Freemaker would take her on as his apprentice. Girl can masterbuild!
– HOLY MOS EISLEY, THAT’S THE GHOST OUT THERE. WITH MODIFICATIONS. I THINK. I COULD BE WRONG. BUT THIS IS CANON TO ME NOW. Someone from the original crew better be flying it though. I doubt General Syndulla would let some schnook steal it. Goodness this just got me thinkin’ on the Rebs’ futures something fierce. *Gets lost in thought for ten minutes pondering what fate may befall the Rebels in their last season* It could just be another ship of the same variety, but… you have to wonder.

HUNTING FOR HAN

Maz’s Castle looks like a fun place, even with its sometimes-frightening and untrustworthy clientele. Perhaps because its owner is so wise and welcoming and noble. But as we see in this short, for all the crazy crowds it attracts, there are always a few genuine souls who come through the Castle’s doors…

Assorted Fangirl Musings:
– You guys ever wonder where Maz finds this stuff? Avid eBayer I guess. And I’m sure having a professional career as a pirate helps you know where to find certain things…
– Knowing how this ends, why would anyone slap a “poisonous” sticker on a suitcase containing musical instruments? Well I guess Bala Tik’s got a reputation to keep. Bartering something so non-lethal would get a laugh out of the rest of the galaxy’s common criminals. That, or maybe certain species are actually negatively effected by the sounds of these space-saxophones, like maybe it makes their heads explode or something. Hmm…
– The “silver fox” comment cracked me up beyond belief. But it’s true… all of it!
– You have to wonder though if all of these incidents were really Han’s fault. I mean, sure he’s not doing the best with his life right now but it doesn’t mean he’s a complete scoundrel! Everyone’s just jealous ’cause they know they will never age that well XP
– “I heard Greedo shot first!” “THEM’S FIGHTIN’ WORDS!!” Oh boy, this again…? Guys. There are far more interesting debates in the world of Star Wars than that old argument.
– Wow can Maz use that lightsaber! She may have been saving it for someone special to find it someday, but it sure has its uses in the meantime!
– And aw yay Lando!! I love so much that, though he and Han seem to have gone different ways over the course of their lives, Lando still always has his buddy’s back. It gives me many feels. Wonder what the old smoothie’s been up to though? Y’know what, I bet he manages that casino Finn and Rose are gonna go on a mission to in VIII. That would be truly awesome. Either way, watching him play the space-sax with Maz Kanata is so sweet and gives me hope that Lando Calrissian’s doin’ all right, wherever in the galaxy he is 🙂

THE TROUBLE WITH RATHTARS

Possibly my favorite short in the bunch, we get to see an average everyday for Han and Chewie and the dangers of their recent business ventures, as well as a softer side to one of my favorite SW monsters.

Assorted Fangirl Musings:
– But why did Chewie let the rathtars out to begin with?? Did he feel sorry for them? I could see Chewbacca having some compassion on the poor giant squishy balls of death.
– OK and seriously, despite they’re being pursued by TIEs and they’ve got loose rathtars on board, Han is still handling this clunky ship like a dream.
– “That’s Dooku, Kitster, Lobot”??? Wizard code, bro XD
– Also Han rolling the window down is just so ludicrously hilarious, like OMG that’s so good. I’m convinced this freighter might’ve been rebuilt with some earth-made spare parts. It’s got side-view mirrors, seatbelts (evidently), and brakes! I’m pretty sure none of those things are normal, but hey spare parts are spare parts.
– Chewie lullabying the rathtars to sleep is literally too precious! I’ve always loved the rathtars, as they made a big impression on me as the first SW monster I saw on the big screen, but this short made me love them even more, ’cause really they’re just giant squishy sweethearts :3
– Even if they can and will eat your face any other chance they get.

ATTACK OF THE CONSCIENCE

A surprisingly deep little finale, we get a sense as to where Finn came from and the friends he’d made, and why it wasn’t just that first attack on Jakku that changed his mind on his stormtrooping career.

Assorted Fangirl Musings:
– WHOA THEY STILL HAVE AT-ATS! Do you think they finally figured out how to make ’em Jedi-proof?
– I like this concept of ‘trooper training looking like middle school soccer practice XD
– Wait. So they only fight fake Rebels, but with real detonators?? *Shoots a disapproving look at Phasma*
– I think the voice of Finn is also the voice of Zander Freemaker, and he’s doing awesome at it.
– “That’s Kylo Ren! He’s awesome!” “I know! He threatened to have me destroyed once!” “…WHAT?” Um yeah, this really ain’t soccer practice, FN-2187.
– I like that every time Finn starts questioning the plan, he lifts his helmet up, which we know is a major stormtrooper no-no. I’m sure the First Order taught the ‘troopers that they’re the good guys and everything they’re doing is for peace ultimately, but I’m glad that somehow, Finn has a broader moral compass that’s allowing him to see attacking a village as questionable. Guess he was out sick that one day they had the seminar on jerkiness.
– And boy… when you think about what’s about to happen from here… OH YOU POOR CHILD. YOU POOR, POOR CHILD. *Cries for Finn and his friend, too*
– But despite all the pain about to go down, Captain Phasma’s not wrong when she remarks “…your destiny awaits.”

So yeah aren’t those just great? I do so love me some Lego Star Wars! And since I haven’t discussed The Force Awakens as much I’dve like to, I’m glad I could immerse myself in this era again and hopefully start some interesting conversations as we get excited for the next chapter in this beautiful saga in only six more months!

So it’s safe to say that graphic tees make up the majority of my wardrobe. I love the style’s versatility and the infinite number of designs you can find, especially when it comes to fandom-related ones. It’s probably not surprising to say that I own more Star Wars shirts than any other fandom. Thinking on this fact, I found I really wanted to write about the art of my Star Wars shirts and how the right design can speak volumes. And also give the artists some serious credit where credit is due, because I love these tees so much :3NOTE: Contains spoilers from Episode VI

My very first Star Wars tee was this Olly Moss piece from Hot Topic. There are many reasons this Return Of The Jedi one caught my eye; the dramatic, simple-but-not-really-simple design, the contrast of dark and light, that rich, swoon-worthy shade of teal-green… but what I love most about it is that it captures both the excitement of the battle of Endor and the beauty of Vader’s redemption. An AT-ST clomps around beneath the trees as silhouetted ewoks watch from above. But when you zoom out of the scenery, you realize the gnarled branches form the Darth’s menacing helmet. I love also that it’s a shirt celebrating Episode VI, which holds a special place in my heart partly because my first viewing of the film helped further my growing love of the series as a whole. And of course, I’ll always argue that the movie needs more love, so wearing this one is a great way to make clear to the world that I love all chapters of the Original Trilogy equally 🙂 As I said on an old tumblr post, Olly Moss is awesomesauce!

When I spotted this one at Walmart, I knew it was definitely for me. I’m pretty short, but Yoda never fails to remind me that “size matters not”! I love this one’s comic-y design and bold lettering. And though you can’t tell in this picture, it’s a gorgeous, vibrant shade of green that seems to get more colorful every time I step into the sun! Plus, the tee’s super super comfy. I honestly probably wear this one more than any of the others just because it’s so easy and comfortable. Yoda wins the day in all the ways!

This Fifth Sun sublimated Chewbacca is just beautiful you guys. Whoever designed this needs to be showered in wookiee cookies. I don’t have an abundance of brown shirts, so this rich, dark chocolately tone is a great addition to my collection. And on top of that, it’s excellent quality and super-hardy material. But the best thing about it, of course, is seeing Chewie’s smiling face and soulful blue eyes every time I pass a mirror. I’ve never been able to wear it without trying out my Chewbacca impression once or twice 😀 It’s bold and brilliant and I wish I could find more of these lovely sublimated tees again (I could sure use a Wicket one…)

Hot Topic’s BB-8 schematics is just loaded with detail and adorableness. Not to mention being another one of my more relaxed and comfy tees. The white and orange pops off the charcoal background nicely, and knowing a little as to how BB functions makes me feel pretty Star Wars smart. And whenever I pass a mirror, I just can’t help but hug myself because it’s the closest I’ve come so far to hugging the precious ‘mech ❤ Plus, I'll always be able to look back on this as the one I got the year The Force Awakens came out. This shirt’s a classic and it’s no wonder they sold them as long as they did!

Finally, this is my gorgeous First Order Troops shirt from UNIQLO, probably the highest-quality one I own. Normally I’m not big on shirts with just stormtroopers or Vader on them. I know why people like them on shirts, as they’re iconic, terrifying, and utterly cool. But as much as I love these baddies, I find a lot of these designs to be too basic for me, and I oftentimes would rather have Jedi, Rebels, droids, and other heroes front and center (I still long for the day I can find me something perfect with Obi-Wan on it). But this stormtrooper-centered design is anything but basic. This striking painting with echoes of Takodana’s blue sky and sparks of red blasterfire is placed nicely on the shirt’s lower half, with the logo for Episode VII placed above on the lapel. Everything about this is rich, exciting, and dynamic, and takes me back to one of the film’s most thrilling scenes. I’m definitely looking forward to seeing what UNIQLO does for The Last Jedi…

So with all that being said, if you drew or painted any of these pieces, you are incrediblely awesome, and thank you for taking the time to make such a unique, outstanding piece of clothing. As for the rest of you reading this right now, I hope I awoke some newfound appreciation for your own Star Wars shirts or inspired you to get your first one! After all, a good Star Wars tee is perhaps among the most easy and versatile ways to show the world your SW love, and to find those who share that love 🙂